Lyr Req: Back to Donegal (Rory McLeod)

Subject: back to Donegal
From: GUEST,guest: don
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 01:53 PM

looking for correct song title and artist for" Back to Donegal or Going Back to Donegal" will look up lyrics from there. thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: GUEST,Adolfo
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 04:01 PM

I've got a long long version by (a certain) Rory McLeod. Great song, great beat, but I haven't been able to find the lyrics to this particular version. Someone sent me a couple of verses but they don't match. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: whistledon
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 01:30 PM

Thanks Adolfo! I have the same version too. Yes, a great song with many great intrumental breaks. If I could only understand what it is he is saying. whistledon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: Quincy
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 06:42 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: GUEST,Adolfo
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 03:45 PM

It's not that it helps much, but at least you can see his face. Reminds me of (a much younger) Robin Williamson.

http://www.rorymcleod.com/albums/travelling.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: whistledon
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 05:09 PM

You're right, he does look a lot like 'Mork'! I'm still searching but no luck yet. Thanks for the site. whistledon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From:
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 05:08 PM

I found a page for Rory McLeod which lists an e-mail

PErhaps sending him an e-mail might get the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: back to Donegal
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 06:38 PM

Rory McLeod's song BACK TO DONEGAL appeared on his Cooking Vinyl CD "Travelling Home," 1991. It's also on Cooking Vinyl Sampler (Volume Two), 1993. Both seem to be out of print.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Donegal (Rory McLeod)
From: cnd
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 09:24 PM

Listen to the song here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAp9Xg2yKXw)

Lyrics:

BACK TO DONEGAL
(Rory McLeod)

Back to Donegal; going to see Old Leo
Into Rodden's bar; Paul don't forget your banjo
Knock up all the old tribe; Laurence, Liam, Billy
Hilary, Eileen, Seercha, on the banks of Lough Swilly

We saw the big yellow moon go down; we played all night in Letterkenny
Singing the Whistling thief; all my mates were whistling with me
Playing tunes upon the ferry from Holy Head or Stranraer
Hitched ourselves a ride to the steps of the Gweedor bar

After rolling out some tunes and all the cans that we could carry
All pile in Seamus Macs bus through the road blocks outside Derry
John shouts for "Paddy on the Turnpike." Laurence shouts "Oh can ya"
Everyone we know there; we must be in Buncrana


Stephen winks at Dinny; Dinny winks at Paul
Tomas is cradling his pipes, Martin's cradling a football
Home to see old friends and family, feeling ten feet tall
From West Kilburn to Paddington Basin back to Donegal

Playing sets of reels and jigs, oh how I feel my soul flies
From the bar to someone's kitchen, singing to the sunrise
Elliet's fiddle-bow is scratching, "The Devil's jig" from her violin
Paul's long fingers picking "The Butchers Apron," plucking on his banjo skin

[Instrumental: Paddy on the Turnpike]

Steve's hand is like a humming bird, whipping out rhythm on the mandolin
Smiling like George Formby, it makes me smile to see him grin
Catch the flying tune; it's skipping and a-rolling in the rhythm
Catching a fiddler's dark brown eyes, I can't stop looking in them

Such a crazy love we can't get enough
I'm in love with the whole damn crowd of my friends
I'm in love with them; we're in love with the tune
We're in love with the dance that will never end

We're in love with the winding roads that bend
Through the mountains, valleys and down through the Glen
We're in love with the glimmering light on the hills
We're in love with the bar that pays all our bills

[Instrumental: Wise Maid]

The rhythm takes a hold of me; I can't keep my feet still
This one's for the barman, the one who keeps my glass filled
Fionualla's crying a story of love that's she's been bursting to tell
Someone's torn the clanger out of the landlords drinking bell

Ask the landlord to give us some of that beer that we're helping him to sell
Give us that song, you know how it goes "the town I love so well"
We don't know where we going, but we'll tell you where we've been
I'm touching the earth, I'm a travelling Ma and I'm joking with Ossian

I've come from the land of the ever-young
I'm a fool who keeps on falling in love
I love women and I can't get enough, I'll dance with them till my legs fall off
Teach them the Hokey Kokey, laughing we'll dance arm in arm
Now we're off to Downing's, Ballyshannon and Strabane


Killybegs, Malinhead then Sheephaven and Coleraine
As true to our word the last time we were here that we'd be back again
When we're travelling we'll give your love to somebody who knows you
Lock us in here with you land lord we've got no homes to go to

[Instrumental: The Pride Of Petravore]
[Instrumental: Eileen-Ogue]

I feel I'm tearing myself away; I'll love you and I'll leave ya
I'll be back some old day to West Kilburn and Buncranna
The barman's shouting out to everybody "Have you got no homes to go to?"
I sing "I've got no home in this world anymore; I'm just passing through"
Home is where my friends are and you are all part of me
I'll leave you with this song are you coming
Or are you going to try to stop me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Donegal (Rory McLeod)
From: cnd
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 01:01 PM

Rory McLeod is the composer of this version. The song is based off of the Irish folk song "Dear Old Donnegal," which was popularized by Bing Crosby, whose version was written by Steve Graham.

Source